Telecommunications module

ABSTRACT

A cable boot is mounted to a telecommunications module housing an optical component, wherein the cable boot extends outwardly from the module. The cable boot is mounted by axially passing the cable boot over a plurality of cables carrying fiber optic signals leading to the optical component, axially passing a portion of the cable boot through a cutout defined on a main housing of the telecommunications module, placing a boot retainer over the boot in a direction transverse to the axial direction to capture the flexible boot against movement both in the axial direction and the transverse direction, and mounting a cover on the main housing to capture the boot retainer against the main housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/004,095, filed Jan. 22, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,609,404, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/533,224, filed Nov. 5,2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,301,030, which claims benefit to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/902,585, filed Nov. 11, 2013, whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to telecommunicationsequipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to fiberoptic signal distribution modules configured for mounting in chassis.

BACKGROUND

In fiber optic telecommunications systems, it is common for opticalfibers of transmission cables to be split into multiple strands, eitherby optical splitting of a signal carried by a single stranded cable orby fanning out the individual fibers of a multi-strand cable. Further,when such systems are installed, it is known to provide excess capacityin the installations to support future growth and utilization of thefibers. Often in these installations, modules including splitters orfanouts are used to provide the connection between transmission fibersand customer fibers. To reduce the cost and complexity of the initialinstallation and still provide options for future expansion, a modulemounting chassis capable of mounting multiple modules may be used insuch an installation.

While the chassis may accept several modules, the initial installationmay only include fewer modules mounted in the chassis, or enough toserve current needs. These chassis may be configured with limited accessto one or more sides, or may be mounted in cramped locations. Inaddition, some of these chassis may be pre-configured with the maximumcapacity of transmission cables to accommodate and link to modules whichmay be installed in the future. Since it is desirable to have access tocomponents within the chassis for cleaning during the installation of anew module, some provision or feature of the chassis will desirablypermit a user to access and clean the connectors of thesepre-connectorized and pre-installed transmission cables.

It is also desirable for the chassis to be configured to ensure thatmodules are installed correctly and aligned with other components withinthe chassis to mate with the pre-connectorized and pre-installedtransmission cables.

In fiber-optic communications, it is also common for optical signals oftransmission cables to be multiplexed. Wavelength division multiplexing(WDM) is a technology which multiplexes multiple optical carrier signalson a single optical fiber by using different wavelengths of laser lightto carry different signals. This allows for a multiplication incapacity, in addition to making it possible to perform bidirectionalcommunications over one strand of fiber.

Improvements in the design of such telecommunications modules aredesired.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications assemblyincluding a chassis and a plurality of modules mounted within thechassis. Within an interior of each of the modules is located a fiberoptic component. In one embodiment, the fiber optic component may be afiber optic splitter. In another embodiment, the fiber optic componentmay be a fiber optic division multiplexer/demultiplexer. The modules mayinclude one or more signal input locations at the rear of the modulehousing or at the front of the module housing that may be adjacentsignal output locations. In the case of a multiplexer/demultiplexer, thesignal input locations also act as signal output locations since themodule may be configured to both demultiplex signals coming in andmultiplex signals going out of the module. When the module is used as afiber optic division multiplexer/demultiplexer module, themultiplexer/demultiplexer, as a receiver, is configured to demultiplexmultiple optical carrier signals carried by the single input opticalfiber into different wavelengths of laserlight as customer outputsignals. As a transmitter, the multiplexer/demultiplexer is configuredto multiplex the customer signals, which are different wavelengths oflaserlight, and combine them into a single optical fiber to be outputtedfrom the module.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the module mayinclude a main housing portion and a cover configured to enclose themain housing portion. The main housing portion may define front and rearcutouts that may be configured as signal input or signal outputlocations. The module may further include a removable insert that iscustomized based on the type of fiber optic equipment that is going tobe housed within the module and the cable routing desired within themodule.

The insert may be sized and configured to accommodate different types offiber optic equipment such as fan-outs, fiber optic splitters,multiplexer/demultiplexers, combiners, filters, etc. The insert mayinclude cable management structures such as radius limiters or spoolsthat are designed in accordance with the cable routing needed for thetypes of fiber optic equipment provided in the modules.

The insert may also include features that cooperate with the cutouts ofthe main housing portion of the module housing for customizing thesignal input and output locations. For example, the insert may includeinsect-infestation prevention features that align with the cutouts ofthe main housing portion to provide at least partial blockage of thecutouts to limit insect infestation. The insert may be configured withfeatures to provide complete blockage of the openings defined by thecutouts if the cutouts do not need to be used for inputting oroutputting signals.

Thus, the inserts provide specific customization for the modulesdepending upon the desired connectivity and allow for parts such as themain housing portion and the cover to be used as standard base parts forimproving manufacturing efficiency.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, the module includes aflexible cable boot that is located at one of the cutouts, wherein theflexible cable boot may guide cables coming into or out of the module.The cutout defined by the main housing portion is configured such thatthe cable boot can be axially slid over the cables, brought toward themodule from an exterior of the module along the axial direction, andplaced at the cutout. A boot retainer is placed over a flange or lipdefined by the boot in a direction transverse to the axial direction tocapture the boot from being pulled out both in the axial direction andthe transverse direction. The boot retainer is slidably placed along thetransverse direction within a notch defined by the insert. The cover ofthe module housing is placed on the main housing portion to capture theboot retainer against the main housing portion.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to atelecommunications module comprising a housing including a main housingportion and a removable cover cooperatively defining an interior, themain housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rearwall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a secondsidewall of the housing when mounted on the main housing portion toclose off the interior, the housing defining a signal input location anda signal output location. The main housing portion defines a cutout thatcan be used as either the signal output location or the signal inputlocation. An optical component is located within the interior, theoptical component configured to receive a fiber optic input signalcoming in from the signal input location and output a fiber optic outputsignal going toward the signal output location. A flexible boot defininga cable passage for inputting or outputting cables is removably mountedto the main housing portion so as to extend toward an exterior of thehousing, the cable passage of the flexible boot being in alignment withthe cutout, wherein the flexible boot is mounted to the main housingportion by axially passing a portion of the flexible boot through thecutout and placing a boot retainer over the boot in a directiontransverse to the first sidewall so as to capture the flexible bootagainst movement both in the axial direction and the transversedirection. The cover is configured to capture the boot retainer againstthe main housing portion when mounted on the main housing portion.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a method ofmounting a cable boot to a telecommunications module housing an opticalcomponent, wherein the cable boot extends outwardly from the module, themethod comprising axially passing the cable boot over a plurality ofcables carrying fiber optic signals leading to the optical component,axially passing a portion of the cable boot through a cutout defined ona main housing of the telecommunications module, placing a boot retainerover the boot in a direction transverse to the axial direction tocapture the flexible boot against movement both in the axial directionand the transverse direction, and mounting a cover on the main housingto capture the boot retainer against the main housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the inventivefeatures and together with the detailed description, serve to explainthe principles of the disclosure. A brief description of the drawings isas follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded front perspective view of atelecommunications module in the form of a fiber opticwavelength-division multiplexing module having features that areexamples of inventive aspects in accordance with the present disclosure,the module configured to be inserted within a chassis similar to thechassis that is shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 2 illustrates the module of FIG. 1 without the cover, the opticalcomponent, and the cable retainer of the module;

FIG. 3 illustrates the module of FIG. 2 in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 4 illustrates another front perspective view of the module of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the module of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear perspective view of an insert of the module ofFIG. 1 in isolation;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the insert of FIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the insert of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a telecommunications chassis configured to removablyreceive the module of FIG. 1, the chassis further including an adapterassembly configured to mate with the module of FIG. 1 if the module isused as a rear-input module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentinvention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a telecommunications module 10 having features thatare examples of invention aspects in accordance with the presentdisclosure. In the depicted embodiment, the module 10 is a fiber opticsignal distribution module that is configured for removable mounting ina telecommunications chassis, such as the chassis 12 shown in FIG. 15 ofthe present application.

It should be noted that the chassis 12 illustrated in FIG. 15 is shownwith another type of a module 110 mounted therein, wherein that module110 is further illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,536,075 and7,885,505 incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Thefeatures of the chassis 12 shown in FIG. 15, however, are fullyapplicable to the module 10 of the present disclosure. The module 10 ofthe present disclosure is configured to be inserted within the chassis12 in a manner similar to that described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,536,075 and7,885,505 that have been incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties. As will be described in further detail below, the module 10of the present disclosure may include fiber optic connectors that aremounted to the module housing 14 and that protrude from the modulehousing 14 for making a connection to adapter assemblies 16 mounted onthe chassis 12. In this manner, signals may be input into the modules 10through the connectors of the modules 10 that mate with connectors atthe opposite ends of the adapters positioned on the chassis 12.

In general, the module 10 includes the module housing 14 that is definedby a main housing portion 18 and a cover 20 configured to enclose themain housing portion 18. The main housing portion 18 may define frontand rear cutouts 22 configured as signal input and signal outputlocations as will be discussed below. The module 10, as depicted, alsoincludes a removable insert 24 (shown in isolation in FIGS. 7-14) thatis customizable based on the type of fiber optic equipment 26 to behoused within the module 10 and the cable routing desired within themodule 10.

The insert 24 may be sized and configured to accommodate different typesof fiber optic equipment 26 such as fan-outs, fiber optic splitters,multiplexer/demultiplexers, combiners, filters, etc. The insert 24 mayinclude cable management structures such as radius limiters or spoolsthat are designed in accordance with the cable routing needed for thetypes of fiber optic equipment 26 provided in the modules 10.

In the module 10 depicted in the present disclosure, the fiber opticequipment 26 is a multiplexer/demultiplexer and the insert 24 shown hasbeen customized to support the multiplexer/demultiplexer 26. It shouldbe understood that the broad inventive aspects of the present disclosureare applicable to modules that may house other types of fiber opticequipment and inserts that are configured for accommodating other typesof equipment.

The insert 24 of the module 10 may also include features that cooperatewith the cutouts 22 of the main housing portion 18 of the module housing14 for customizing the signal input and output locations. For example,as will be described in further detail below, the insert 24 may includeinsect-infestation prevention features 28 that align with cutouts 22 ofthe main housing portion 18 to provide at least partial blockage of thecutouts 22 to limit insect infestation. The insert 24 may be configuredwith features to provide complete blockage of the openings defined bythe cutouts 22 if the cutouts 22 do not need to be used for inputting oroutputting signals.

Thus, the inserts 24 provide specific customization for the modules 10depending upon the desired connectivity and allow for standard partssuch as the main housing portion 18 and the cover 20 to be used for avariety of connectivity solutions to improve manufacturing efficiency.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the module 10 is shown in an explodedorientation. The module 10 includes the module housing 14 that includesa main housing portion 18 and the removable cover 20. As noted above, inthe depicted example, the module housing 14 is configured to house amultiplexer/demultiplexer chip 26 therewithin formultiplexing/demultiplexing signals that may be input and output throughconnectors mounted on the module housing 14. In the depicted embodiment,the module housing 14 includes a cable exit 30 defined by a flexibleboot 32 for relaying cables carrying fiber optic signals to customers.

The module 10, in addition the cable management/routing featuresprovided by the removable insert 24, may itself also include a number ofcable management/routing features as will be described in further detailbelow. One of the cable management features includes a cable retainer 34that is removably mounted to the main housing portion 18 of the modulehousing 14, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the main housing portion 18 defines a firstsidewall 36 extending between a top wall 38, a bottom wall 40, a rearwall 42, and a front wall 44. Removable cover 20 defines a secondsidewall 46 of the module housing 14 and closes off an open side 48 ofmodule main housing portion 18.

Cover 20 is mounted to main housing portion 18 by fasteners throughfastener holes 50 in the cover 20 and fastener mounts 52 defined on mainhousing portion 18. Top and bottom mounting flanges 54, 56 of the module10 are defined by the main housing portion 18. The top and bottomflanges 54, 56 may be different in size to provide keying for the module10. For example, the bottom flange 56 and a corresponding slot 58 onchassis 12 may be smaller in size than top flange 54 and thecorresponding top slot 60 on chassis 12 (please see FIG. 15). Bottomslot 58 may be sized so that, while bottom flange 56 may be receivedwithin slot 58, the larger top flange 54 does not fit. This ensures thatthe module 10 is positioned within a front opening 62 of the chassis 12in a particular desired orientation to be correctly coupled to adapterassemblies 16 mounted adjacent rear 64 of chassis at each mountinglocation 66.

Rear wall 42 of main housing portion 18 includes a curved portion 68configured to provide bend radius protection to cables within interior70 of the module 10. The rear wall 42 of main housing portion 18includes an inset portion 72 and a pair of fiber optic connectors may bepositioned at the inset portion 72 if the module 10 is used as arear-input module. The connectors may protrude rearwardly from rear wall42 for mating with fiber optic adapters of adapter assemblies 16 mountedwithin chassis 12 as described in further detail in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,536,075 and 7,885,505 that have been incorporated by reference.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6 and 15, the front wall 44 of the module mainhousing portion 18 is angled with regard to the front opening 62 ofchassis 12, which may aid in the direction of cables exiting the module10 toward a desired location. In other embodiments, front walls could bemade generally parallel to front 62 of chassis 12 within the scope ofthe present disclosure.

As noted above, the embodiment of the module 10 illustrated includes onecable exit 30 defined by a flexible boot 32 extending from front wall 44of module main housing portion 18. As will be discussed in furtherdetail below, the boot 32 is captured against the main housing portion18 by a boot retainer 74 which is further captured by the to cover 20when cover 20 is mounted to main housing portion 18. The boot 32 definesa protruding rear lip or flange 76 that is used in capturing the boot 32against the main housing portion 18.

As noted above, the main housing portion 18 may define front cutouts orapertures 22 that may be configured as signal input or signal outputlocations. The flexible boot 32 is configured to align with one of thecutouts 22 to permit telecommunications cables within module 10 to bedirected outside of module 10. The boot 32 is preferably sized thinenough to fit within the profile of the module 10 to preserve thedensity of the module 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, the main housing portion 18 includes anintegrally formed flexible latch 78 (i.e., cantilever arm) that isadapted to engage a portion of chassis 12 to hold module 10 within thefront opening 62 of chassis 12. Flexible latch 78 also deflects topermit withdrawal of module 10 from chassis 12. The flexible latch 78 ofthe module 10 is constructed similarly to those of modules discussed inU.S. Pat. Nos. 7,536,075 and 7,885,505 that have been incorporatedherein by reference and operates in a similar manner for insertion andremoval of the module from the chassis. The latch 78 of module 10includes a fixed grip tab 80 opposing and adjacent to flexible latch 78to aid removal of module 10 from chassis 12. Fixed grip tab 80 ispreferably positioned on module 10 opposite latch 78 so that a user mayapply opposing force on latch 78 and fixed grip tab 80 to securely graspmodule 10 and remove it from chassis 12 with two adjacent fingers of thehand. The insertion of the module 10 into chassis 12 is also describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,536,075 and 7,885,505 that have been incorporatedherein by reference.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, the module 10, as noted above, includes aremovable insert 24 (shown in isolation in FIGS. 7-14) that iscustomizable based on the type of fiber optic equipment 26 to be housedwithin the module 10 and the cable routing desired within the module 10.

In the shown embodiment, the insert 24 includes a first radius limiter82 that is positioned adjacent curved portion 68 of rear wall 42 of mainhousing portion 18 when placed within the housing 14. The first radiuslimiter 82 cooperates with a second to radius limiter 84 that is formedintegrally with the main housing portion 18 adjacent front wall 44 ofthe main housing portion 18 near the upper cutout 22 defined by the mainhousing portion 18. The insert 24 defines a cutout 86 configured toaccommodate the second radius limiter 84 as the insert 24 is placedwithin the main housing portion 18.

The insert 24 defines a third radius limiter 88 that is positionedadjacent the front wall 44 below the second radius limiter 84 of themain housing portion 18 when placed within the main housing portion 18.As will be discussed in further detail below, the radius limiters 82,84, 88 provide bend-protection to fiber cables within the module 10while providing cable management/routing functionality.

Adjacent bottom wall 40 of main housing portion 18 within the interior70, the insert 24 defines a first guide 90 and a second guide 92 forplacement of the multiplexer chip 26 within the module 10. A third guide94 is defined by the insert 24 adjacent the first radius limiter 82defined by the insert 24. The first radius limiter 82 defines a curvedwall 96. The curved wall 96 includes a first end 98 and a second end100. The first and second ends 98, 100 of the curved wall 96 also act asguides in positioning the multiplexer chip 26 within the module housing14. The first, second, and third guides 90, 92, 94 and the ends 98, 100of the curved wall 96 of the first radius limiter 82 form a framestructure around the chip 26 for positioning the multiplexer chip 26within the interior 70 of the main housing portion 18. As shown in FIG.1, once the multiplexer chip 26 is placed within the guides 90, 92, 94,the chip 26 is held within the module 10 against the first sidewall 36by the removable cover 20.

In addition to the guides 90, 92, 94, as shown, the insert 24 mayinclude alignment posts 102 that are configured to be inserted into thealignment openings 104 provided on the chip 26 for placement of the chip26. A first post 102 a is positioned by the first guide 90, a secondpost 102 b is positioned by the second guide 92 and a third post 102 cis positioned by the third guide 94. A fourth post 102 d defined by theinsert 24 is positioned near the cutout 86 defined by the insert 24.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, the module main housing portion 18 alsoincludes integrally formed crimp holders 106 (e.g. defined by slots)adjacent the front wall 44 of the main housing portion 18 that arepositioned in between the second and third radius limiters 84, 88. Crimpelements crimped to the ends of cables carrying signals that have beenmultiplexed/demultiplexed by the chip 26 are slidably received intocrimp holders 106. Crimp elements define square flanges between which isdefined a recessed portion. The crimp holders 106 include complementarystructure to the crimp elements such that once the crimp elements areslidably inserted into the crimp holders 106, the crimp elements areprevented from moving in a longitudinal direction due to the flanges.Once slidably inserted, crimp elements are held in place by the cover 20that is mounted to module main housing portion 18. Other complementaryshapes between the crimp elements and the crimp holding slots 106 arealso possible to provide a slidable fit and to prevent axial movement ofthe crimp elements once inserted into the crimp holders 106. Such crimpholders and crimp elements are shown and described in detail in U.S.Pat. Nos. 7,536,075 and 7,885,505 that have been incorporated herein byreference.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-6, if the module 10 is going to be used as arear-input module, fiber optic connectors may slidably be inserted intocutouts 22 formed at the rear wall 42. Connectors are configured toproject out from rear wall 44 at inset portion 72 of rear wall 42. Itshould be noted that the connectors may function both as inputconnectors and output connectors since the module 10 is configured toboth demultiplex signals coming in and multiplex signals going out viathe connectors.

The multiplexing chip 26 of the module 10 may provide a two-way signalpath for the signal going through it. Input signals input through theconnectors may be demultiplexed and split into different wavelengths andsignals coming from the customers are multiplexed and combined into asingle signal to be carried on a single fiber that is output alsothrough the connectors. For inputting and outputting signals, an outsidecable terminated by a connector may be optically connected to aconnector of the module 10 through an adapter of the adapter assembly16. This connection is established by the slidable insertion of themodule 10 into a chassis 12 such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,536,075 and 7,885,505, which have been incorporated herein byreference.

According to one embodiment, the optical equipment 26 housed within themodule may be a 1×4 dense wavelength division multiplexing chip.According to another embodiment, the module 10 may house a 1×8 densewavelength division multiplexing chip 26. According to anotherembodiment, the module 10 may house a 1×16 dense wavelength divisionmultiplexing chip 26. In another embodiment, the module 10 may house acoarse wavelength division multiplexing chip 26. Other types ofmultiplexer chips 26 are also contemplated.

As noted above, the insert 24 may include features that cooperate withthe cutouts 22 of the main housing portion 18 of the module housing 14for customizing the signal input and output locations. For example, inthe depicted embodiment, the insert 24 may include insect-infestationprevention features 28 in the form of bulkheads 108 that define cutouts112 therebetween. According to one example embodiment, theinsect-infestation prevention bulkheads 108 may define cutouts 112 thatare preferably sized to provide a snug fit with the output or inputcables such that any extra room around the cables is limited to preventinsect-infestation. When less then all of the cutouts 112 or less thanthe entirety of a cutout 112 is used, the remaining space can be pluggedusing different types of plugs. For example, according to oneembodiment, the remaining space that is not used for outputting a fibercan be plugged using a dummy fiber furcation tube assembly. The dummyfiber furcation tube assembly may include all of the components of anormal live fiber furcation tube assembly except for the fiber itself.

When the insert 24 is placed within the main housing portion 18 of themodule housing 14, the insect infestation prevention bulkheads 108 alignwith the cutouts 22 at the front wall 44 of the main housing portion 18to provide at least partial blockage of the cutouts 22 to limitinfestation.

Referring to FIGS. 1-14, in the depicted embodiment, since only one ofthe cutouts 22 defined at the front wall 44 of the main housing portion18 is being used for outputting or inputting cable, the lower cutout 22can be covered by a portion 114 of the insert 24 when the insert 24 isplaced within the main housing portion 18.

In other embodiments, wherein the lower cutout 22 may need to be used asa cable output or input, the insert 24 may provide features toaccommodate a flexible boot similar to those discussed above for theupper cutout.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 and 9, in the depicted embodiment of the module10 wherein only the upper cutout 22 is used for outputting or inputtingcables, the insert 24 may define features that align with the uppercutout 22 for accommodating the flexible boot 32. According to thedepicted embodiment, in order to facilitate placement and/or removal ofthe flexible boot 32, the cutout 22 defined by the main housing portion18 is configured such that the cable boot 32 can be axially slid overthe cables, brought toward the module 10 from an exterior of the modulealong the axial direction A, and placed at the cutout 22, wherein acable passage 116 defined by the boot 32 aligns with the cutout 22. Inthis manner, if the cables have been inserted through the boot 32, theboot 32 does not have to be lifted in a direction B transverse to thefirst sidewall 36 of the main housing portion 18, wherein excessivebending of the fibers may occur. In the depicted embodiment, the cutouts22 are large enough such that the rear lip or flange 76 of the boot 32can be axially inserted through the cutouts 22 and then placed within anotch 118 defined by the insert 24. The notch 118 is positioned in frontof the insect-infestation prevention bulkheads 108 as seen in FIGS. 2and 9. The rear lip or flange 76 of the boot 32 is moved nominally in atransverse direction B in placing the lip 76 within the notch 118.

Once the rear lip 76 of the boot 32 has been placed within the notch 118defined by the insert 24, a separate boot retainer 74 is slidably placedover the boot 32 in a direction B transverse to the axial direction A.The boot retainer 74 is slidably placed within another notch 120 definedbetween the insert 24 and a portion 122 of the front wall 44 of the mainhousing portion 18 that surrounds the cutout 22. The boot retainer 74defines a flange 124 that is inserted into the notch 120. Oncepositioned, the flange 124 defined by the boot retainer 74 abuts, on oneside, an inner side of the front wall 44 surrounding the cutout 22. And,the flange 124 defined by the boot retainer 74 also abuts, on theopposite side, the lip 76 of the boot 32 to prevent the boot 32 frombeing pulled out in the axial direction A. The cover 20 of the modulehousing 14 is placed on the main housing portion 18 and captures theboot retainer 74 against the main housing portion 18 to prevent the boot32 from being pulled out in the transverse direction B.

Thus, as described above, the inserts 24 of the modules 10 may include avariety of features and may provide specific customization of themodules 10 depending upon the desired connectivity. The inserts 24 allowparts such as the main housing portion 18 and the cover 20 to be used asbase parts for a variety of connectivity solutions for improvingmanufacturing efficiency.

Referring back to FIG. 1, other features of the module 10 include thecable retainer 34 that may be placed on the main housing portion 18 tokeep cables wrapped around the first radius limiter 82 defined by theinsert 24. The cable retainer 34 is planar and includes a circular shapeto match the contour of the curved portion 68 of the rear wall 42 of themain housing 18. The cable retainer 34 includes three tabs 126positioned around the periphery. The three tabs 126 are placed withinnotches 128 formed around the curved portion 68 of the rear wall 42 ofthe main housing portion 18. The cable retainer 34 includes a circularopening 130 which accommodates the first radius limiter 82 thatprotrudes through the opening 130. When the cable retainer 34 is placedon the main housing portion 18, it lies flush with the main housingportion 18 and is held thereagainst by the cover 20.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the cover 20 of the module 10. The cover 20, asnoted above, is configured to be fastened to the module main housingportion 18 by fasteners. The cover 20 is used to capture the fiber opticconnectors (if the module is used as a rear input module), the cableretainer 34, and the boot retainer 74 once mounted to the main housingportion 18. The cover 20 may include features to align it with the mainhousing portion 18 in correctly positioning the cover 20 on the mainhousing portion 18.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the disclosure. Since manyembodiments of the disclosure can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the inventive aspects, the inventive aspects residesin the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of mounting a cable boot to atelecommunications module, wherein the cable boot extends outwardly fromthe module, the method comprising: axially passing a portion of thecable boot through a cutout defined on a main housing of thetelecommunications module; placing a boot retainer over the boot in adirection transverse to the axial direction to capture the flexible bootagainst movement both in the axial direction and the transversedirection; and mounting a cover on the main housing that is separatefrom the boot retainer to capture the boot retainer against the mainhousing.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the boot retainerabuts a protruding lip of the flexible boot in retaining the boot withinthe main housing in the axial direction.
 3. A method according to claim1, wherein the boot retainer abuts a portion of the main housingsurrounding the cutout to prevent the flexible boot from moving in theaxial direction.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein thetelecommunications module houses an optical component and a plurality ofcables extend from the module that carry fiber optic signals leading toor from the optical component.
 5. A method according to claim 4, whereinthe module further includes a removable insert defining a cablemanagement structure for managing the cables extending to and from theoptical component.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mainhousing includes a flexible cantilever arm extending from the mainhousing for providing a snap fit connection with a piece oftelecommunications equipment.
 7. A method according to claim 4, whereinthe module includes at least one fiber optic connector protruding fromthe main housing, the fiber optic connector configured to be terminatedto a cable carrying a signal going to or coming from the opticalcomponent.
 8. A method according to claim 4, wherein the opticalcomponent is an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer.9. A method according to claim 4, wherein the cable boot is axiallypassed over the plurality of cables extending from the module before aportion of the cable boot is axially passed through the cutout definedon the main housing of the telecommunications module.